IRON DM revival!

[Psion]

Even though the I am the one being bumped up to the empty slot, I am sorry Psion

I was looking forward to reading your entry.

If I get time, I'll put something up in the home game. But it's a good thing I did drop... I got saddled into even MORE obligations today...

 

[seasong]

edit: I really am just kidding. I know how you feel. I really enjoy Iron DM but the arbitrary nature of the judging does beg for something more concrete, something you can point to and say - there is where they did better than me.

I don't know. DM preferences are part of the fun, for me. I mean, Iron Chef has everything to do with the judges being arbitrary, whimsical, tasteless bastards... people watch it to see the cooking art being performed, and to rail at the judges.

And incognito, I don't think you are an arbitrary, whimsical, tasteless bastard. Rather, you are a fine example of perfect objectivity, ceaseless dependability and exquisite taste. Ahem.

And I'm glad I didn't have to pick between the two.

 

[Gizzard]

DM preferences are part of the fun, for me.

Yep. I think I disagreed with about 25% of the decisions in the previous Iron DM -- and those I disagreed with I often disagreed with strongly. But, so it goes; thats why you have one judge.

(Tangent: Hmmm, that makes me wonder if you could run this contest as a poll format. Somehow I dont think it would work, and if thats so then part of the fun must be seeing one judge do his thing.)

Analysis: Wulf's (it was Wulf, wasnt it?) entry last time with the Cursed Backbiting Spear and the Evil Monks is still probably my favorite thing to come out of the Iron DM contest. Its interesting to note that its got the same elements of moral ambiguity as his current entry. Why, then, do I like the previous one much better than this one?

Is it possible that there is an element of "justice" in the previous one that is missing here? Fara has chosen to corrupt herself and so if the PCs should end up killing her they aren't totally unjustified. With the Dryad, the corruption seems inadvertent and if she gets killed it would be much more of a tragedy. (Note that I am considering these consequences first; Wulf may run a game where players think first and act second, but the scenario should be suitable for the majority of players, not only experienced, thoughtful players. ;-)

Anyway: dont get me wrong and think I dont like Wulf's scenario. (I will be printing it out in a second and storing it away in my binder of "Favorite Iron DM Things" so it has a lot to recommend it IMHO.) Just offering some thoughts now that the judging is done.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Its interesting to note that its got the same elements of moral ambiguity as his current entry.

As will they all; that's my style, even if it costs me.

Is it possible that there is an element of "justice" in the previous one that is missing here? Fara has chosen to corrupt herself and so if the PCs should end up killing her they aren't totally unjustified. With the Dryad, the corruption seems inadvertent and if she gets killed it would be much more of a tragedy.

Gah! Why this necessity to coddle the players? If they kill the dryad and feel bad about it, they've actually learned something. Why present them with options if they can do no wrong?

Wulf may run a game where players think first and act second...

Oh, God, no. They do stupid things all the time. But, I let them.

Anyway: dont get me wrong and think I dont like Wulf's scenario. (I will be printing it out in a second and storing it away in my binder of "Favorite Iron DM Things" so it has a lot to recommend it IMHO.) Just offering some thoughts now that the judging is done.

If you or anyone else runs the poor dryad scenario, I'd love to hear how it goes down. I don't know, maybe players are automatically distrustful of Fey, but I truly think most players would look for an excuse not to hurt a dryad.


Wulf

 

[alsih2o]

i am now wishing i had had my turn before these four, i am shaking in my boots from the production i have seen here....

 

[seasong]

Wulf: I liked your scenario (as I've mentioned before), but I will point out that art rarely wins over craft. One thing that probably could have helped it win (without compromising your principle of moral ambiguity and hard lessons) would have been to give it a strong Russian or Slavic feel. The most probable outcome of the scenario is depressing, and Russian/Slavic fairy tales practically ooze that kind of tragic choice. Personally, I would have given the PCs a somewhat better opportunity to make the right choice - not because I think players need to be handheld through an adventure, but because they also don't need to be set up for failure... which this scenario skates the edge of.

With that said, I do like it, and I'll be adapting it for my own use in a Russian fairy tale at some point. I can't give specifics, as half my players read these boards . (I don't mind them figuring out what I've done to them afterwards, of course).

alsih2o: Well, look at it this way... YOU won't have to go up against Wulf or ladyofdragons.

 

[Gizzard]

Gah! Why this necessity to coddle the players? If they kill the dryad and feel bad about it, they've actually learned something.

Actually, I was more afraid that they'd kill her and not feel bad about it. With Fara, the players get hit with the realization of what happened when they find her letter to herself. So, the scenario wraps up nicely. Here, unless the players have read the MM2 (which I discourage) or the PCs get a good Knowledge (Monstrous Fungus) roll then they'll probably never figure out exactly what happened. PCs: "Hey, remember that forest witch thing that animated all those mushrooms?" "Yeah, that was pretty weird." "Weird? That was downright evil with the Zombies and all. Good thing we killed her before she bushwacked anyone else." "Yeah. But I always wondered where her little witch hut was. I bet it was full of treasure."

If that happens, I dont think the encounter worked as a gameplay element; as Incognito says: What’s the point in beautifully crafted scenarios if no one understands them? But thats a style preference, not an absolute judgement.

 

[incognito]

Ladies and Gentleman!

....Let's get ready to ruuuummble!

ok - it's true, I'm a boxing fan. I feel like, as the referee of this last match, I took an inadvertent punch from Wulf-san, but let me explain:

This is what I love about IRON DM. Even when you lose a round, it is the exposition of discussing the underlying ideas, and thought process that lead to a submission which captures interest. Agree with me or disagree, but do it in the thread, and talk it out. That starts the synapses firing for all the aspiring DMs out there who long for new and creative ideas for their campaign.

That being said, I am hoping to run 2 matches at the same time today, so chime in Rune, Alsih20, GrisWold, and Tuerny when you are ready.

First two to respond will pair up!

 

[alsih2o]

i got vaseline on my cheekbones and a sharpened pencil in my hand....color me ready

 

[Mirth]

Just jumping the gun a bit, but I'm ready should anyone not show up. Not that I hope that happens.